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Fires Roar Across Southern, Central Oregon

Three wildfires in Southern Oregon are keeping tankers and crews busy, with 73 new fires ignited by lightning this weekend.

Dry conditions have given fire crews much to do this summer, with the season starting early.

Douglas Forest Protective Association

The Douglas Complex set off with over fifty fires Friday morning, and has consumed more than 2,000 acres.

Carol Connolly with the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center says Southern Oregon is benefitting from a large deployment of resources.

Connolly says, “We have had eight large air tankers working the area. Three from Oregon Department of Forestry and five that are federal. We’ve had great air support. The Northwest is a priority nationally, the area down in the southwest is very critical with the timber. And they’re throwing everything they can at it.”

Another hotspot, the Whiskey Complex near Tiller, was estimated this afternoon / Saturday afternoon at around 800 acres.

And a third crew has been dispatched to fight the Labrador fire, at about 300 acres on the edge of the Rogue River, Siskyou National Forest.

Douglas Forest Protective Association

The weather outlook this week may offer fire crews a chance to get the upper hand. Forecasters are calling for dry conditions, lower temperatures, and low to moderate winds. Conditions are still extremely dry, and everyone in wilderness areas is advised to be very cautious with flammables.

Firefighters are close to a turning point in Central Oregon, with the Sunnyside Turnoff fire continues to pose problems near Warm Springs. It has consumed nearly 49,000 acres. 950 people have been engaged in fighting the blaze.